Iceless shipper



R. w. SCARLETT I ICELE'SS SHIPPER May .28, 1929.

Filed Sept. 15. 1926 In ueni'or:

Refl x? WScarlei' Patented May 28, 1929.

UNITED s'r A'rss ROBERT w. scnnnn'rr, or PHILAD LPHIA,PE NSY VANIA; A

I I IcE Ess snzrrnn;

Application. filed September 15, 1928. Serial No. 135,836.

My present invention relates to aniceless shipper of a type in. which perishable goods such as ice cream, butter, dairy products, candy or the "like may be transported for reasonable lengths of time without melting or spoilage. A principal object of the invention is the provision of a container of the above type which will be wellinsulated as to heat to protect the'contents, which. will be of mini mum weight and bulk, while maintaining a rigidity and sturdiness of construction which will withstand the abuse to which the shipper would ordinarily be subjected.

In 'a copending application Serial No. 135,687 'I have described a shipping container of a somewhat similar construction in which the material to be transported is to be placed within a metal can or the like contained within the shipper, while this present application is particularly concerned with a shipper which does not require a metal can yet an inner can may be made use of. This present shipper is especially adapted for brick ice cream packed in pasteboard containers, or butter and cheese in pasteboard cartons.

A container of this type is particularly adapted to be used with materials where carbon dioxide snow is used as a refrigerant. To this end the invention consists in the provision of a container of the above type having insulation in the form of balsa wood .staves joined together in a waterproof man ner and thoroughly paraflined or made waterproof with some other desirable material on that face next the food being shipped. Balsa wood being-extremely weak, it is necessary that it be reinforced on the outside, and this reinforcement may consist of a plurality of coats of waterproof glue, shellac or paint substance wherein the waterproof material is made to impregnate the outer pores of the balsa wood so as to form a sort of casehardened surface. Upon this hardened surface is then applied duck, drill, or other fabric and a plurality of coats of waterproof glue, shellac 01' paint substance painted upon this surface. This impregnated fabric materially assists in giving body to the soft insulation and prevents cracking and splitting. This balsa box is held within a metal frame composed of angle irons so constructed that the frame work receives all shocks incidental to han-= dling and so encloses the balsa box that the staves cannot separate. A top is suitably provided in any desired manner, properly insulated so that a compact, waterproof, closed container-isprovided. I The interior compartment is preferably provided with hardwood battens arranged vertically on the side walls andhorizontally on the bottom. Thus when packages of perishable goods "are-packed therein, they. are spaced from the walls of the container, allowing circulation ofair, which assists in the insulation; or arefrigerating gas such as is generated by the use-of carbon dioxide snow.

The invention further consists in the combination, arrangement and Construction of parts hereinafter shown and described. In the drawings: r v Figure I is a side elevation partly in section showing the structure of theshipper.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the completed shipper.

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a modi- :fied form of container.

Referring now to the form illustrated, I

have shown thebalsa staves at 1 tongued and grooved, each stave being secured to its neighbor by means of waterproof glue or asphaltum in order to make a tight joint.

The side staves have secured at their lower extremities a bottom '2 likewise of balsa staves dado jointed into the staves 1, the joint being packed with waterproof glue, asphaltum, or a good water proofing substance. I

The upper edge of the vertical balsa staves areadapted to receive a hard wood ring 3 having a depending tongue 4 entering a similar recess in the staves '1 and made tight wlth' asphaltum, glue or the like. The hard wood ring 3 is also provided with a shoulder 5 to receive the top, as will be'more fully described hereinafter.

'The interior of the balsa box thus constructed is provided with a thorough coating of paraffin shown at 6 to render the same waterproof and nonabsorptive. Hardv v wood battens 7 are arranged vertically on the side wall of this balsa box and short battens are secured to-j the bottom portion thereof so as to keep the packages being shipped out of contact with the balsa proper to prevent wear and tear thereon and permit circulation of air and gas.

A hard wood veneering 8 underlies the m,

r in the nature of casehardened surface.

bottom of the container to give strength to the weak balsa bottom. I

The balsa container is given a plurality of coats of waterproof glue, shellac or paint substance indicated generally at 9 so as to impregnate the pores of the balsa to form To this coated container a covering of duck,

drill or other fabric is applied as at 10. This fabric covering is likewise given a plurality o'fcoats ofwaterproof glue, shellac or paint substance so as to thoroughly at-' tach the same to the balsa and shrink the fabric upon the same.

This insulation container is then placed within a metal frame composed preferably of galvanized angle irons comprising an upper reinforcing ring and a lower reinforcing ring, or angleas shown at 11 and 12,

respectively, andv enclosing within these rings or, angles vertical braces 13, suitably secured to thereinforcing rings.

Between the rings and beneath the ver- 7 ,tical braces are provided cross elements 14 to which handles .15 are attached. These cross elements likewise serve tobrace the vided, which block is secured to the upper centerof the balsa box .and to prevent separation of the vertical braces.

To the bottomreinforcing ring or angle are secured cross straps 16 carrying wooden shoes or skids 17. a

A top comprising a balsa block 18. is prooverhanging hard wood block 19, between which is fastened a rubber gasket 20. I have found it desirable to cover the balsa block with duck, drill, or other fabric as at 21 so as to protect the balsa wood and impregnate the same with paraflin in order to render this material to an extent waterproof. The gasket 20 is adapted to rest upon the shoulder 5 ofithe hard ring 3 and I the top held in place by means of a plurality metal frame receives all of the shocks at angles and corners in shipment so that the relatively weak balsa construction is not depended upon to retain the shape of the container.

The 'glue impregnated fabric on the outside of the balsa box prevents wear which would ordinarily be received by the side walls and also prevents separation of the balsa staves. Obviously the glue, shellac or paint substance. impregnated fabric may be painted as desired, which paint'covering also assists in protecting the fabric.

In Fig. 3 is shown the container of some what. similar construction except that in place of the hard wood battens I have shown a metal inner can at 25 having an upper shoulder 26. resting upon the top of-the balsa staves. In this form I may groove or .channel the bottom of the hard wood rim to receive a similarly shaped tongue 27 onthe upper balsa stave. It will be noted that the extreme upper edge of the can 25 is adapted also to enter the groove in the wood rim, this edge and the tongue 27 being made tight by means of waterproof glue, asphaltum or other material of this nature.

I claim:

1. A portable insulated shipper comprising a box of relatively soft insulation material, its outer surface beingimpregnated with a waterproof substance, protective fabric, shrunk and anchored on said outer surface by said waterproof substance, the

hard wood protective strips, whereby articles placed within the box are kept out of contact with its interior walls, so that circulation may take place between said articles and said interior-walls.

2. A'portable insulated shipper comprising a box made of staves of relatively soft in- ROBERT w; SGARLETT.

interior of the box having spaced. apart 

